What a crazy, perfect day it has been in Arlington.

Here is the run down on the final day of the UIL state championships:

11:00am- 5A Division I- Highland Park (16-0) vs. Shadow Creek (15-1)

The Skinny: Highland Park took an early lead and never looked back.

The score really doesn’t seem to do justice the kind of hurt that Highland Park put on their opponent today, but the stats will. Senior QB Jamarian George threw two costly interceptions in the first half which ultimately awarded Highland Park with an extra 10 points. George was under pressure all game, resulting in nine total sacks and 73 yards of downfield progress lost. Meanwhile, the Scots on offense were rolling in the first half. Junior QB Chandler Morris and senior WR Finn Corwin were putting on a clinic, Corwin racking up 8 receptions for 131 yards and a slick stop-and-go 24-yard TD in the first two quarters. Corwin would finish the game with 142 yards on 12 catches. In the second half, Highland Park’s offense would cool down and not find the endzone for the remainder of the game. A Shadow Creek comeback was ignited on the heels of a massive 99-yard scramble and breakaway from George, though in the final minutes of regulation George’s fourth interception to the hands of senior DB Whit Winfield would seal the game.

Key Takeaways: It seems as though the Scots were destined for their victory today. Dominant on both sides of the ball, they came at Shadow Creek hard early in this game and never gave up their lead. However, despite their loss it’s easy to see how Shadow Creek was able to make such a successful run through the playoffs. Although they were on the receiving end of a defensive onslaught they haven’t experienced all season, QB George- An exceptionally dynamic playmaker who was able to make plays on his feet was able to keep Shadow Creek’s hopes alive until the very end.

Final: Highland Park 27, Shadow Creek 17

 

3:00pm- 6A Division II- Longview (16-0) vs. West Brook (13-3)

The Skinny: No defense, no problem.

I don’t even have to mention defense. Seriously. The stat sheet was nearly blank.

But the result was spectacular. Both teams racked up 627 yards of total offense in the first half alone and clocked out at 1,062. Game had a real Chiefs-Rams feel to it as we experienced one big play after the next.

West Brook QB La’Ravian Elia would have an outstanding day with 144 passing yards and 2 TDs, both to go-to senior WR Deonte Simpson, along with 142 on the ground and one rushing score. But once again, winning in the air would ultimately prove to be the key to victory.

Kamden Perry- Senior WR for Longview- is a beast. By halftime, 2018 AP Player of the Year QB Haynes King had already thrown for 232 yards and two TDs, 145 of those yards and one 77-yard TD belonging to Perry. King would finish the day with a whopping 423 yards though the air, finding four different receivers for more than 50 yards. Though Longview pulled out a monumental comeback in the final eight minutes, missed opportunities almost were the Lobos’ downfall. Longview would miss out on three separate 2-point conversions, the last of which could have nearly put the game away, and one crucial redzone opportunity just beforehand which would have done the same. Despite this, champions go for two and on fourth down. Despite falling hard on these opportunities, this is the kind of effort you want to see from a team fighting for a title.

Key Takeaway: This one was a classic. Despite a close score all game, Longview overcomes one missed opportunity after the next and wills themselves to the town’s first football title since 1937.

Final: Longview 35, West Brook 34

 

8:00pm- 6A Division I- North Shore (16-0) vs. Duncanville (14-1)

The Skinny: HE CAUGHT IT!

I spent all day taking notes at these games, and after twelve hours of doing anything mistakes just happen. But the way this game ended had me scratching out half the page, and most notably the part about North Shore’s epic second half collapse.

There were five lead changes in the first half, and then both offenses went dark for the entire third quarter AND THEN all hell broke loose.

29-20, North Shore.

With the open of the final quarter, Duncanville would go for 10 unanswered, making the tally 30-29 going Duncanville’s way. North Shore would respond in kind with a 9 play, 77-yard drive and 8-yard TD pass to Dematrius Davis, and then fail a 2pt. conversion, also to Davis.

35-30 North Shore.

Then Duncanville reacts with their own 9 play, 85-yard march into the endzone with 1:02 remaining on the clock, and they miss their 2pt. conversion, which put the score at 36-35 Duncanville, but would have at least forced North Shore to score a TD to win with a minute remaining.

Then, when North Shore once again had marched their way back into Duncanville territory with :11 remaining on the clock, the unthinkable happened. North Shore’s offense had done exactly what they needed to do, which was shave down the clock and enter field goal range to tie. On the final approachm junior OL Damieon George would be called for a gut-wrenching holding penalty, which would leave North Shore well out of field goal range with :03 left.

While Duncanville was already beginning to celebrate, North Shore did the one thing that was left to them to do.

Lob that sucker to your senior WR and win.

Four players would line up far right and go for the Hail Mary, and North Shore’s AJ Carter would come down with the 45-yard bomb like it had his name on it.

Final: North Shore 41, Duncanville 36.

There would be four more lead changes, all happening in the final quarter. That would make nine total on the whole game.

Key Takeaways: If Longview-West Brook was a classic, then this one may be one of the all-time greats. Flatly put, even if North Shore hadn’t put a nice bow on it with the insane finish, this game would have still been remembered for quite some time.

Merry Christmas North Shore.